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What can you eat in Laos? If you're traveling to Laos and don't know what to try, check out these delicious and enticing traditional Laotian dishes in the article below.
Laotian cuisine is a fine blend of cultural, geographical, and unique ingredients that create distinct and memorable flavors. When exploring the traditional dishes of Laos, you'll experience the influence of neighboring cultures such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, offering a taste that is both familiar and refreshingly unique.
Exploring Laotian cuisine is not just a journey for your taste buds, but also an opportunity to learn more about the culture and lifestyle of the people here. Get ready to enjoy the famous traditional dishes of Laos with the list provided by Mytour below!
1. Laap - The Lucky Dish of the Lao People
This dish is considered the 'national dish' of Laos, often served during festivals and gatherings. It is also seen as a symbol of good luck, traditionally made and gifted during the New Year celebrations.
This is a grilled meat salad made from beef, pork, or chicken, combined with fresh vegetables and seasonings such as kaffir lime leaves, chili, and sesame oil. Besides being served with fresh greens, this dish can also be enjoyed with sticky rice. If you visit Laos, make sure to try this dish!
2. Tam Mak Hoong - Lao-style Papaya Salad
Tam Mak Hoong is a traditional Lao salad made from thinly sliced green papaya, mixed with garlic, chili, peanuts, and Lao fish sauce. It’s a refreshing dish with a unique balance of flavors.
This dish is similar to Thailand’s papaya salad but with a key difference: it doesn't include peanuts, and it’s paired with fermented fish sauce. The taste is tangy and spicy, and it’s commonly served with plain rice.
3. Sai Oua - Lao-style Sausage
Sai Oua is a type of Lao sausage made from minced pork, seasoned with herbs, and steamed with galangal, kaffir lime leaves, rosemary, cilantro, chili, and fish sauce. The sausage has a rich, savory flavor and is often grilled over an open flame until golden brown.
This dish is popular among both the locals and tourists in Laos because it's easy to eat, pairs well with many dishes, and has a fragrant aroma.
4. Mok Pa - Banana Leaf Steamed Fish
Mok Pa is a traditional Lao dish known for its unique cooking method and rich flavor. The dish involves wrapping fish (usually carp or catfish) with spices such as garlic, chili, and local Lao seasoning called 'mak khen', along with kaffir lime leaves, and then steaming it in banana leaves over charcoal.
When served, you’ll experience the fragrant aroma of the fish, perfectly blended with the spicy kick of chili and the distinct flavor of mak khen, making for a truly memorable and flavorful culinary experience from Laos.
5. Laap Naam Tok - Lao-style Minced Meat Salad
Laap Naam Tok is a traditional Lao dish and a special version of Laap. It is made from finely chopped beef or pork, mixed with seasonings like kaffir lime leaves, garlic, chili, and mak khen. What sets Laap Naam Tok apart is the addition of grilled or smoked meat, which imparts a deep, unique flavor to the dish.
6. Naem Khao Tod - Salad Gạo Giòn Kiểu Lào
Món này còn được gọi là "salad gạo giòn" do thành phần chính là cơm nắm chiên giòn. Đây là một món trộn độc đáo trong ẩm thực Lào, được làm từ cơm nắm chiên giòn, xúc xích heo, đậu phộng, dừa nạo và các gia vị như nước mắm, ớt khô, tạo nên một hương vị đặc trưng và cực kỳ lạ miệng.
Món ăn này vô cùng phổ biến và đã được phục vụ ở nhiều nhà hàng Lào cả ở nước ngoài, tuy nhiên để thưởng thức được hương vị món ăn trọn vẹn và thơm ngon nhất thì nhất định phải thử ở quê hương nó, đo là đến Viêng Chăn – Lào.
7. Khao Soi - Mì Lào
Khao Soi là một món ăn truyền thống của người Lào, được làm từ sợi mì dai và thịt gà hoặc thịt bò, được nấu trong nước dùng thơm ngon từ cà rốt, khoai tây và nước dừa. Món này có vị ngọt tự nhiên của các loại rau củ và vị đậm đà của thịt, tạo nên một hương vị đặc trưng và hấp dẫn.
8. Sien Savanh - Thịt Bò Khô Kiểu Lào
Sien Savanh is a specialty from the Savannakhet region in Laos, made from thinly sliced beef marinated in spices and then sun-dried. This dried beef has a rich, savory flavor and is commonly enjoyed with white rice or beer, making it a perfect dish for snacking.
This is also a popular souvenir among tourists visiting Laos, as many people buy it to take home as a gift for family, friends, and loved ones!
9. Khao Niew - Lao Sticky Rice
Khao Niew is an essential part of daily meals for the people of Laos. It’s a soft, steamed white sticky rice often served with grilled meats such as chicken, pork, or beef, offering a well-balanced meal of rice and meat.
Khao Niew is more than just food; it symbolizes unity and connection within Lao families and communities. During many festivals and gatherings, Khao Niew is prepared and shared to celebrate joy and strengthen bonds among people.
10. Or Lam - Spicy Stew in Lao Style
This dish originates from the ancient city of Luang Prabang. Typically made with pork or chicken, it’s combined with a variety of vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin, along with spices such as mak khen, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, chili, and garlic.
Or Lam is usually served hot, making it perfect for cooler days or during festive occasions and family gatherings. Its spicy flavor not only warms the body but also stimulates the taste buds, providing a unique and unforgettable culinary experience.
11. Ping Kai - Lao-style Grilled Chicken
Ping Kai is a well-known dish in Lao cuisine, recognized for the natural sweetness of the chicken meat combined with the deep flavors of various spices. The chicken is marinated in seasonings before being grilled, creating a crispy skin and a beautiful golden color.
Ping Kai is often grilled over charcoal and enjoyed outdoors, providing a cheerful and warm atmosphere. It's a perfect meal for family and friends to gather around, creating memorable moments together.
12. Khao Piak Sen - Lao-style Pho
This is a Lao-style pho made with large rice noodles, typically served with pork or chicken, spring onions, and fresh vegetables. What sets this dish apart is its distinct broth, cooked from chicken or pork bones, and flavored with spices such as ginger, garlic, spring onions, and kaffir lime leaves.
The dish has a rich, distinct flavor and is a popular choice for daily meals in Laos. It is also highly praised by many tourists who visit the country.
13. Khao Jee - Lao-style Bread
Khao Jee is considered one of the best street foods in the world, as featured by CNN. Known by several names like Khao Gee, Jee Khao, Khao Ping, or Lao Sticky Rice Bread, this dish is simple yet flavorful.
The dish is made by threading sticky rice onto a skewer and grilling it over charcoal. A layer of egg, fish sauce, and sliced chili is applied to the rice to enhance the flavor. The egg coating gives Khao Jee a beautiful golden-brown crust. It’s also very affordable, typically costing less than a dollar per serving.
14. Fried Seaweed - Kaipen
For those who are fond of seaweed, a trip to Laos is incomplete without trying this unique and delicious fried Kaipen seaweed dish. When served, it is typically paired with sweet and sour fish sauce or a spicy chili sauce.
This dish offers a delightful combination of salty sea flavors and the crispy texture that will truly excite your taste buds. It is commonly enjoyed as a snack during social gatherings or as an interesting dessert in family meals.
15. Insect-based Dishes in Laos
In Laotian cuisine, insects play a significant role. Dishes made from insects, such as fried earthworms, grilled beetles, and roasted crickets, are considered delicious and nutritious. These insect-based foods are not only a rich source of nutrients but also form a regular part of daily meals and festive occasions.
This reflects the diversity and creativity of Laotian culinary traditions, and it is a unique aspect that attracts the attention of visitors to the country.
Be sure to save this post for future reference to make your culinary journey in Laos even more complete. Also, feel free to explore more interesting travel articles on the Mytour Vietnam Blog, such as Latest Guide for Self-Guided Singapore Travel, First-Time Travel Tips for Thailand: A Fun Journey You Won't Forget, 4-Day, 3-Night Self-Guided Bali Trip for Best Friends, Latest Guide for Self-Guided Bali, Indonesia Travel, 30 Famous Vietnamese Tourist Destinations You Shouldn't Miss, 36 Tourist Spots in Vietnam That Will Enchant Any Traveler.
Let’s dive into the delightful world of Lao delicacies and enjoy the most aromatic, mouth-watering dishes!
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